A WIDNES youngster who is to take on the cream of the disabled table tennis world is getting out and about thanks to fundraising efforts by the Irish Guards Singers.

Seamstress Renee Hunter-Spivey was tailoring waistcoats for the Widnes-based singing group when chairman John Hyland asked if there was anything they could do for her son Jack who suffers from cerebral palsy and is a competitor in the Paralympics.

Renee made a throwaway comment: 'Oh, you could get Jack a mobility scooter' - not expecting group chairman John Hyland to go straight out and order a shiny new one in red!

As a result of his condition, Jack, 11, is unable to walk and often relies on his pals at St Peter and Paul High School to push him round.

The electric scooter will be presented to him on April 30 by a serving member of the Irish Guards accompanied by the regimental mascot Fergus, an Irish wolf hound and, members of the Widnes singing group.

Renee said: 'Jack uses his wheelchair for everything including school, but he's a big lad and his friends have to push him. He is an 80% chair user and we are delighted by the Irish Guards Singers' generosity - this scooter will really help his mobility.'

John Hyland told the Weekly News: 'We had been invited to sing in Greenwich on June 27.

'We will be performing alongside Cliff Richard so I was worried about singing in our usual blazers.

'I was looking for someone who could make waistcoats and Renee came to give us a quote.

'When she came I saw her struggling with Jack in the wheelchair and thought we might be able to help.'